Pharmaverse Podcast

Leadership isn't about giving orders. It's about understanding your team, adapting your communication style, and creating an environment where people can succeed. In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Jonas Hylton, PharmD, Founder & CEO of Executive Biotech Advisors, to discuss the leadership principles he developed during more than 25 years in p...

n this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Mike Banville shares powerful insights on what separates good leaders from exceptional ones. From executive communication to organizational culture, Mike explains why leadership isn’t just about vision, it’s about translating strategy into measurable execution. We explore why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills, how successful leader...

In this episode of the Pharmavers Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Kelly Gold, Chief Financial Officer of Camp4 Therapeutics, to discuss her unconventional path from mechanical engineer and competitive dancer to biotech CFO. Kelly shares how designing Biosafety Level 4 laboratories taught her to identify risks, eliminate single points of failure, and develop contingency plans that now guid...

What shapes a great leader? For Dr. Leslie Dennis, it began on the frontlines of Africa’s AIDS epidemic. In this powerful episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, Michael Pietrack sits down with Dr. Eslie Dennis , Global Head of Medical Affairs at Kyowa Kirin, to explore a journey spanning medicine, leadership, resilience, and purpose. Dr. Dennis shares unforgettable stories from treating AIDS patients...

In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack sits down with John O’Donnell, VP of Global HEOR at Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, for a deep conversation on leadership, AI in pharma, hiring elite teams, emotional intelligence, and the future of healthcare innovation. John shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the pharmaceutical industry, including how great leaders make difficul...

Welcome to The Pharmaverse Podcast, where host Michael Pietrack interviews top leaders in the pharma industry. This episode features Alex Albuquerque, MD, PhD, a true star in the field. If you're passionate about healthcare and career growth, you're in the right place to learn from the best in medical affairs and biotechnology. What do wine, dog psychology, cancer survival, global leader...

In this episode of the Farm Averse Podcast, host Michael Petrarch sits down with Dr. Christiane Langer, SVP of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Secure Bio, for a candid conversation on what authentic leadership really means in today’s pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Langer shares why authenticity is often misunderstood, how vulnerability can build stronger teams, and why personal branding matters more...

In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast , we sit down with Heather Paprstein , Senior Director of Oncology Medical Affairs at Corsair Therapeutics, to explore what it truly means to lead with empathy in the pharmaceutical industry . Heather shares her journey from oncology nurse to senior pharma leader , and breaks down the practical leadership skills needed to grow teams, navigate medical affa...

What makes a truly great leader? In this episode of the PharmaVerse Podcast, host Michael Petrarch sits down with bestselling author Bob Burg, co-author of the global phenomenon The Go-Giver, to explore the timeless principles behind extraordinary leadership, influence, and success. Bob shares the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success—a powerful framework that has influenced leaders, entrepreneurs, a...

Join Michael Pietrack and Paul Ward, Executive Director of BeOne Medicines,, for a comprehensive Pharma Leadership Masterclass. This three-part series dives deep into the real-world leadership lessons Paul has learned over 25+ years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. 📙In this video, you’ll learn: ▪️Early leadership experiences and lessons from sports and school ▪️Transitioning from pee...

Leadership Lessons from Pharma: Building High-Performance Culture, Curiosity & Collective Intelligence | Pharmaverse Podcast In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Petrack sits down with renowned medical affairs leader Dr. Toby Patterson, former SVP of Global Medical Affairs at Genentech and GSK, to explore powerful leadership lessons from pharma, sports, and life. They discu...

Join host Michael Pietrack on the Pharmaverse Podcast as he speaks with Dr. Kirk Shepard, Chief Medical Officer of PDS Biotechnology, co-founder of the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS), and creator of the Oncology Voices Network (OBN). 📙In this episode, they discuss: ▪️The inspiration behind the Oncology Voices Network and its mission to unite cross-functional stakeholders in oncology....

In this powerful episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack sits down with Shetal Vyas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Development at Ardelyx, to explore what authentic leadership really means in today’s pharmaceutical industry. From immigrating to the United States at the age of seven to leading high-pressure pharma launches,  Shetal Vyas shares deeply personal st...

Season 3, Episode 1: Building a People-First Culture with John Harlow Join Michael Petrack and John Harlow, a senior commercial leader in the pharmaceutical industry, as they explore how to create a people-first culture in Pharma. Gain actionable leadership insights on balancing performance with empathy, hiring for culture fit, fostering curiosity, and driving team success. Learn practical tips fo...

In this episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack sits down with Allison Trucillo, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Avalon Pharma, to explore what it truly means to lead with a growth mindset in the Pharmaceutical industry. Allison shares her inspiring career journey from physician to pharma executive, discusses the powerful growth equation (stress + rest = growth), and exp...

Dive into the Pharmaverse Podcast with host Michael Pietrack as he speaks with Marco Smit, CCO and COO at Domelabs AI, about the revolutionary impact of AI on the pharmaceutical industry. This episode covers: - How AI, including Gen AI and Agentic AI, is reshaping drug development and operational strategy - Emerging roles in pharma and guidance for recruiting AI-savvy talent - Practical tips for e...

Season 2, Episode 22: Man in the Arena with Tony Lin Join Michael Pietrack on The Pharmaverse Podcast as he interviews Tony Lin. In this inspiring episode, Tony shares his leadership journey, the invaluable lessons he learned from his father, and the resilience needed to thrive in Pharma. He dives deep into facing challenges, navigating cultural transitions, mentorship, and the power of mental cue...

Season 2, Episode 21: A Century of X-Rays with Margaret Yu In this powerful episode of the Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack sits down with Dr. Margaret Yu, Chief Medical Officer at ARTBIO, an oncology company leading the charge in Radioligand Therapy (RLT) to revolutionize cancer care. Dr. Yu unpacks the 130-year history of radiation in medicine — from the discoveries of Marie and Pierre...

Season 2, Episode 20: Exploring The "ProFound" with John Lepore | The Pharmaverse Podcast Join host Michael Pietrack on The Pharmaverse Podcast as he talks with John Lepore, CEO of ProFound Therapeutics, about leadership, career pivots, and the future of pharmaceutical innovation. Discover how passion, mentorship, and strategic partnerships drive breakthrough therapies and impact patient...

Season 2, Episode 19: Confronting Osteoporosis with Miranda Toledano Welcome back to the Pharmaverse Podcast, hosted by Michael Pietrack. In this episode, we sit down with Miranda Toledano, CEO of EnteraBio (NASDAQ: ENTX), to explore: 🔹 The evolving treatment paradigm for osteoporosis 🔹 Why millions of women worldwide remain undiagnosed and untreated 🔹 EnteraBio’s groundbreaking EV613 oral tabl...

Join Michael Pietrack on the Pharmaverse Podcast as he sits down with Dr. Chadi Nabhan, MD – CMO and Head of Strategy at RyghtAI, hematologist, oncologist, author, and podcast host – to explore the future of clinical trials, AI innovation, and leadership in healthcare. 📕In this episode, Dr. Nabhan shares: ✔️How RyghtAI uses AI digital twins to speed up clinical trials and reduce costs. ✔️The proc...

Season 2, Episode 17: Ode To The Oncopig with Jessicca Rege Welcome to The Pharmaverse Podcast, your go-to destination for insights in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. In this episode, host Michael Pietrack sits down with Jessicca Rege, PhD, CEO of Seuss Clinicals, to discuss pioneering approaches in preclinical oncology research using the Oncopig cancer model. Jessica shares her experienc...

Season 2, Episode 16: Breaking Barriers with Jacob Becraft Join Michael Petrack on the Pharmaverse Podcast as he interviews Jake Becraft, CEO & Co-founder of Strand Therapeutics! Discover how Jake is transforming cancer treatment with programmable mRNA therapies. Hear about his journey from a small town in Illinois to MIT, how jiu-jitsu shaped his leadership, and the lessons of team-building,...

🎧 Season 2, Episode 15 | What’s In a Name? Featuring Raj Devraj In this insightful episode of The Pharmaverse Podcast, host Michael Pietrack welcomes Raj Devraj, a seasoned leader in the pharmaceutical industry, to explore the power of identity, legacy, and what’s truly behind a name. From cultural influences to leadership values, Raj shares stories from his personal and professional journey—offe...

Season 2, Episode 14: Leading Across Generations with Claudio Pasquinelli In this heartfelt and insightful episode, we sit down with Claudio Pasquinelli, MD, the recently retired Vice President of Clinical Science at Takeda. With over 25 years of experience in pharma and a background in clinical medicine, Dr. Pasquinelli shares profound lessons on leadership, generational mentorship, and navigatin...